Boeing

What Boeing told the FAA about the risks involving the lithium-ion battery aboard the plane have proved different in practice. Because of the battery issue, the 50 Dreamliners in service around world have been grounded.

Regulators grounded 50 Dreamliners worldwide after batteries overheated on two separate flights last month. Only crew will be on board for Thursday's flight to move one 787 from a Boeing plant in Fort Worth to a plant near Seattle. Engineers will then study the plane and its batteries and look at ways to reduce fire risk.

Boeing is scrambling to figure out why two batteries malfunctioned on its 787, causing officials to ground the airplane this month. And at a time when Boeing most needs its skilled engineers, they're weighing a possible strike. Union leaders are considering the company's final contract offer Thursday.

The company's CEO said Boeing plans to keep building its new 787s while it awaits the outcome of investigations into the cause of a fire and overheating aboard the planes. But some analysts are skeptical about continuing the assembly line before the results are in.

Ray LaHood says the FAA is in the "business of doing a top to bottom review" and they will let them finish their job. The FAA grounded all of Boeing's 787 Dreamliners to investigate their lithium batteries.

The investigation into the Boeing 787 has widened to include not just its batteries and electronics, but also the Federal Aviation Administration's certification process. Chronically understaffed, the agency often relies on manufacturers themselves to assist in the testing of new planes.

With just a couple of days before President Obama receives his second inaugural parade, weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about whether we can expect Obama's second term to fall into the same patterns as previous second-term presidents. Historically, the second term has an emphasis on foreign policy and is often riddled with scandal.

Aviation authorities in the U.S. and abroad have grounded the new Boeing 787 because of problems with its big lithium batteries. The batteries pack an electrical punch, but can create incredible heat — and even fires — if things go wrong. This is a problem for electric car makers, too.

With brake issues, fuel leaks and a battery fire in three separate incidents, it has not been a good week for the Boeing Dreamliner. Host Scott Simon talks with New York Times op-ed columnist Joe Nocera about troubles that have beset the new Boeing 787 this past week.

The new, high-tech planes have suffered a series of problems in recent days — from fuel leaks to a fire. Investigators are going to focus on the 787s' electrical systems and manufacturing processes, according to news reports. The planes won't be grounded. Boeing and the FAA say they're safe.